The Ultimate Sacrifice: A Non-Smoker's Tolerance
King Charles III demonstrated what royal staff considered the ultimate sign of devotion to Queen Camilla by tolerating her smoking habit for years, despite being a lifelong fastidious non-smoker. The monarch's willingness to overlook this habit became symbolic of his deep commitment to the woman he loved, even before they could publicly acknowledge their relationship.
A Tumultuous Royal Love Affair
Royal biographer Gyles Brandreth documented the complex relationship between Charles and Camilla in his 2005 book 'Charles & Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair', tracing their story from their first meeting at a polo match in 1970 through to their eventual marriage in 2005. According to Brandreth, Charles rekindled his friendship with Camilla in 1986, fearing he might go stark, raving mad if he didn't reconnect with her.
The biographer described how Charles's love for Camilla had evolved into a full-blown obsession by this period, with the future king finding himself morally checkmated. While his marriage to Princess Diana had deteriorated, Charles felt trapped by his royal position, unable to escape his wife yet equally unable to give up Camilla.
Secret Meetings and Smoking Terraces
During the late 1980s, the couple conducted their affair at various locations including Balmoral, Highgrove House, and the homes of obliging friends. This period represented significant turmoil for Charles, with one friend claiming he fantasised about escaping to Italy and living in exile with Camilla.
Wendy Berry, who served as housekeeper at Highgrove House from 1985 until 1992, provided compelling testimony about Charles's devotion. She recalled how the prince suspended his acute distaste for smoking, allowing Camilla to smoke freely on the terrace where a collection of ashtrays were specifically arranged for her benefit.
Brandreth highlighted this as the paragraph that illustrates Charles's devotion to his mistress better than any other. Berry described how Charles would let Camilla run around him like a wife as they entertained mutual friends, with staff sometimes instructed to remain in the background until guests had departed.
Public Appearances and Private Struggles
While Charles and Camilla continued their relationship privately, Diana publicly maintained that all was well in their marriage. By 1987, rumours circulated that the couple barely spent time together, which Diana explained by saying they split invitations to fulfil twice as many engagements.
The situation reached a critical point in 1990 when Charles broke his arm during a polo match. Diana drove him to Highgrove hoping to nurse him, but according to her former butler Paul Burrell, she left feeling utterly rejected and unwanted after Charles rebuffed her efforts. Camilla arrived shortly after, much to Charles's delight, though she did not stay overnight.
After their separation and eventual divorce in 1996, Charles made his first public appearance with Camilla in 1999. The couple moved into Clarence House together in 2003 and announced their engagement in February 2005. They finally married in a civil ceremony on April 9, 2005, thirty-five years after first meeting.
The End of a Smoking Era
Camilla eventually quit her 30-year smoking habit in 2001, primarily due to suffering from rhinitis that irritated her eyes, nose and throat during pollen season. A friend revealed that although Camilla developed a persistent cough unrelated to smoking, it became the catalyst for her lifestyle change.
Then aged 53, Camilla reportedly commented: It wasn't so much me giving up on smoking, rather smoking giving up on me. Her son Tom Parker Bowles later addressed rumours about his mother's habits, stating definitively: Never drunk a glass of gin in her life. Doesn't smoke.
In November 2022, the Queen confirmed she had been smoke-free for two decades during a conversation with actress Emily Mortimer at a Buckingham Palace reception. When Mortimer mentioned her own mother still smoked heavily, Camilla responded: Oh, she's still on the fags? before confirming her own abstinence: Oh, yes, I quit 20 years ago.
